Tension device



Apr. 17,1923; 1,151,911

W. C. MEYER TENS ION DEVI CE Filed April 13 1920 Patented Apr. 17, 15323.

WILLIAM C. MEYER, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, .A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TENSION DEVICE.

Application filed April 13, 1920. Serial No. 373,503.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others :skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sewing machines and, more particularly, to tension devices for such machines.

The objects of the invention are to improve the construction and mode of operation of tension devicesand to produce a tension device of simple construction which will operate in a reliable manner to maintain a substantially constant tension on the thread and having novel and improved means'for releasing the tension, novel and improved means for heating the tension wheel and novel provisions for adjustment of certain of the parts.

With the above objects in view, the in- 'vention comprises certain novel and improved construction arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafier described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the

advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tension device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in rearelevation of the tension device; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the tension device taken substantially on the line 3-43 of Fig. 2.

The tension device illustrated in the drawing comprises a tension wheel 2 mounted on the inner end of a hollow shaft 4: and arranged so that the thread may be passed about the same on its way from the supply to the work as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shaft 4 is rotatably mounted on a stud 6 secured at its inner end in the frame of the machine, and the rotation of the shaft is controlled to control the tension applied to the thread by means of a brake mechanism.

This brake mechanism comprises a brake wheel 8 secured to the outer end of the shaft 1 and brake shoes 10 and 12 arranged to engage the peripheral surface of the brake the frame of the machine and passing loosely through suitable openings in the brake shoes. The upper end of the brake shoe 10 is pressed outwardly away from the bracket 16 by means of a coiled spring 18, and the movement of the brake shoe under the action of the spring is limited by means of a winged nut 20. The lower ends of the brake shoes are connected by means of a bolt 22 passed through openings in the same, and the lower ends of the shoes are pressed yieldlngly together to cause them to engage yieldingly the brake wheel by means of a coiled spring 24; interposed between the brake shoe 10 an a winged nut 26 threaded on the rear end of the bolt 22. The brake shoes are thus caused yieldingly to engage the brake wheel so as ..to retard frictionally the rotation thereof and apply tension to the thread. V

The above manner of mounting the brake shoes enables the same to be adjusted independently to compensate for wear and also to locate the same properly with relation to the brake wheel. The upper end of the brake shoe 12 may be adjusted toward and from the bracket 16 by adjusting the bolt 14 in said bracket and the upper end of the brake shoe 10 may be adjusted toward and from the bracket by adjusting the nut 20 on the bolt 14.

To relieve the tension on the thread, the lower ends of the brake shoes are moved relatively away from each other against the formly on the same in disengaging the brake shoes from the brake wheel.

The heating means for the tension device comprises a steam chest 36 secured to the frame adjacent thetensionwheel and having a central cliamberto which steamis deliveredtlirOugh an inlet pipe 38. The steam passes from the chamber inthe stea'm'chest through o'utlet pipes 40 and 42. As a furtherpro'vision for keeping'the tension wheel heated toa high temperature, a circular casing 44 surrou11cling the tension wheel" is provided; This casing is preferably .formedas a partofithe frame and the steam chest 36 is's'ecilred to the wallof the casing, so that thef'casiirg is kept hot by the heat received by conduction from the steam chest. The

thread on its wa to the casing 4 passes througha tribe 46 attached at one end to the "casing and after leaving; the tension wheel, the thread passes through a tube 48 also connected with the casing. The casing transmits considerable heat to the tension wheel by radiation and the casing and thread tubes p'rotcctthe thread from air currents which might chillthe wax.

"Having explained the nature and object l of the invention and having specifically describeda device embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is clanned 1s 1. 'Atension device for sewingmaohines, having-1n combination, a tenslon wheel, a

brakefor the tension wheel comprising a brake wheel, a pair of brake shoes for engagement "with the periphery of the brake wheehinea'ns forpre'ssing'the brake shoes against thebralie Wheel, and "mans'for'sup portingthe brake shoes having provision for adjusting independently the'brake shoes to-"compensat'e for wear and to l'ocatethe brakef'sho'esproperly with relation tothe brake-wheel.

2. A tension device for sewing machines, havingid combination, a tension wheel, a brake for the tension "wheel, comprising a brakewheel, a pair of brake'shoesforengage-merit withthe peripherybf the'brake wheeh means for pressing-the brake shoes 3. A tension device for sewing machines,

having incombination, a tension Wheel, a brake for the tension Wheel comprising a pair o'f'brake shoes for engagement with the periphery of the brake wheel, means for pressing the brake-shoes against the brake wheel, a device for engagement between adjacent ends of the brake shoes, means for actuating said device to move the brake shoes away frointhe brake wheeland means whereby the brake shoes may be adjusted with relation to said" device.

4. A tensiondevice for sewing machines, having in combination, a tension wheel, a brake for the tension wheel comprising a brake wheel, apair of'brake shoes for'eir gageineiit with the periphery of the brake wheel, mean for pressing thefbrake shoes against the brake wheeha pivoted bloc-k for engagement between adjacent end'sbf the brake shoes and means for rotating the block to disengage thebrake shoesfr'onrthe brake wheel.

5. A tension device forsewing machines having in combination, a tension wheel, a circular casing surrounding and concentric with the'tension wheel, a brake for' the tension wheel located ontsideof-"the casing and means for heatihgthe-"casing;

A'tension device for sewn-1g machines, having in combination a tension wheel, acircular casing surrounding and concentric with the tension wheel abrake for' the tension wheel located outside of the easing ana -a steam chest attached to'a wants the-"casing.- 7. A tension device for sewingmachines,

circular caslng surrounding concentric with the tension wheel,"a tubeattached to the casing through which the threadypasses on its" way to the-tension wheel, a-tu'be connected with: the ca-sin thrdn'gh which? the the casing, a Y brake for the tension wheel comprising" a brake-wheel located outsidebf the casing, and a brakeshOeFeIigagingthe brakewheel.

having in combination, a tension whelfa 

